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Christie's

FB Roundup: Heidi Horten, Dave Whelan, Jack Ma

May 4, 2023

In this week’s FB Roundup, Heidi Horten’s $150 million jewellery collection is put up for auction; Fitness First owner Dave Whelan plans a rent-cutting restructure; and Jack Ma takes up a professor position at a Tokyo university.

Heidi Horten’s $150 million jewellery collection put up for auction
Following her death in June 2022, the $150 million jewelry precious gems collection of Austrian billionaire and art collector Heidi Horten is being put up for auction by Christie's in what is being labelled by The New York Times as one of the largest jewellery auctions in history.

Buy the book: the bibliophile's collectible

August 10, 2015

Bibliophiles are like no other type of collector; often uninterested in the monetary value of their collection, what sets them apart is a quiet dedication and often obsessive passion for a particular type of bookmaking, or subject.

For almost a century people had walked through the library of one New England family every day without ever really thinking about the books on the shelves. Over generations a large collection of antique books had been accumulated, but had mostly remained in the library of the main family home.

Pinault family office head to lead Christie’s auction house

December 3, 2014

The French businesswoman who has headed the Pinault family’s investments for the last 25 years has been appointed chief executive of auction house Christie’s, which is wholly owned by the family.

The French businesswoman who has headed the Pinault family’s investments for the last 25 years has been appointed chief executive of auction house Christie’s, which is wholly owned by the family.

Patricia Barbizet will replace Steven Murphy as chief executive, following his surprise departure announced this week by Christie’s and effective from the year’s end.

Internet drives record sales at Christie’s

January 22, 2014

An original Apple Mac prototype was the most expensive purchase made through Christie’s online-only auctions in 2013, as the auction house invests in its Internet platform to drive sales.

An original Apple Mac prototype was the most expensive purchase made through Christie’s online-only auctions in 2013, as the auction house invests in its Internet platform to drive sales.

Christie’s, which is part of Francois-Henri Pinault’s holding company, Groupe Artemis, posted sales of £4.54 billion (€5.5 billion) for the year ended December 2013, up 16% on the previous year – the highest sales total for any auction house in the history of the art market.

Collectible cars top passion investments

January 8, 2014

Classic cars have topped a new passion investment index released this week, while when it comes to fine art, traditional Chinese works have provided the most lucrative returns.

Classic cars have topped a new passion investment index released this week, while when it comes to fine art, traditional Chinese works have provided the most lucrative returns.

According to The Coutts Index: Objects of Desire classic cars saw a 257% return on investment over a seven-and-a-half year period, starting in 2005, well ahead of the next most profitable passion investment, classic watches, which saw returns of 176%.

Eccentric heiress’s travel pieces up for grabs

November 4, 2013

One of the most important travel piece commissions for Louis Vuitton second-gen, Georges Vuitton, is to be auctioned off in Paris this week.

The three trunks and tilbury carriage were produced in 1910 for eccentric explorer Blanche de Clermont-Tonnerre, who used it in her travels to India, China, Siberia, Iraq and Persia.

Vuitton was commissioned to produce three trunks, covered in the brand’s then famous red leather, while V Morel produced the carriage.

Harry Winston buys flawless diamond for record price

May 16, 2013

Harry Winston, the luxury jewellery house recently acquired by family business Swatch Group, has paid a record price for a colourless diamond at auction in Geneva.

The pear-shaped 101.73-carat diamond sold for $26.7 million (€20.8 million) at Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale, where a total $102 million was raised and record prices were set for diamonds, pearls and sapphires.

The flawless diamond has now been named Winston Legacy after its new owner.

Great expectations realised for Dickens family

April 4, 2008

The record-breaking sale of some of Charles Dickens’ earliest work has pleased his family.

The record-breaking sale of some of Charles Dickens' earliest work has pleased his family. The auction, which took place at Christie's in New York on Wednesday 2 April, raised $2 million. A first edition of Oliver Twist, with a inscription by Dickens to fellow novelist William Ainsworth, sold for a record $229,000.